All warehouse workers across Louisiana and the rest of the nation face a high risk of experiencing a work-related injury. Yet, research shows that workers employed by one of the United States’ largest warehouse employers are especially susceptible to injury.
Per WAFB, study findings reveal that warehouse workers employed by large e-commerce companies face a serious work-related injury rate that is twice as high as that seen throughout the rest of the industry.
Warehouse worker injury statistics
Studies show that employees who work for one U.S. warehouse employer suffer almost half, or 49%, of all warehouse worker injuries suffered across the country. In 2021, workers employed by that company reported 38,334 injuries suffered by employees of its warehouses. About 34,000 of them were serious in nature. This means they resulted in either employees missing work or employees no longer being able to perform their basic job duties. The warehouse employer also had an injury rate of 6.8 serious injuries per 100 full-time workers. The industrywide serious injury rate is 3.5 injuries for every 100 full-time workers.
Warehouse worker injury types
Many warehouse worker injuries are preventable. Sometimes, these injuries result from workers performing work from heights. In some cases, they occur because of a failure to wear proper safety equipment or follow recommended safety protocols. Back injuries are also common and often the result of heavy lifting. Slips, trips and falls resulting in injury are also common among warehouse workers, as are repetitive stress injuries, overexertion injuries and injuries involving forklifts.
The findings outlined above are the result of injury data submitted by the warehouse employer to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.